Hey, Tony: Tony Grossi answers your Cleveland Browns questions

Thomas Ondrey/The Plain DealerThis week's object of many a Browns fan's affections is free-agent QB Graham Harrell. The light regard much of the NFL seems to have for the Texas Tech star doesn't bother many fans, who are hoping he gets another chance to make an impression in Berea.

Hey, Tony: Considering where he ended up getting drafted, it seems as though the Browns could easily have maneuvered around to get Beanie Wells. Were they not high on him as their future (and possibly current) workhorse back? What happens now in the backfield? -- Peter Pats Jr., Worcester, Mass.

Hey, Peter: There was no indication the Browns were high enough on Wells to draft him in the first round. What happens now? Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison and perhaps James Davis.

Hey, Tony: How do they determine which undrafted players try out for which team, like the Texas Tech QB is with us? How did this come about, is it whoever gets to them first or is it organized somehow? -- Mark Fields, Columbus

Hey, Mark: NFL teams begin recruiting undrafted free agents on the second day of the draft, if not sooner. They'll call and say, "If you don't get drafted, we'd like you to sign (or try out) with us." There are actually bidding wars for some of the undrafted players. Teams do offer signing bonuses for players they really want. Those who don't sign with any team then are recruited for tryouts. Agents play a large role in advising which team presents the best opportunity for their clients.

Hey, Tony: Why is Graham Harrell a system quarterback but Michael Crabtree is not a system receiver? -- Daniel Jenkins, Xenia, Ohio

Hey, Daniel: Crabtree's physical talent and ability to catch the ball are evident and translate to any offensive system. Harrell piloted an offense that stressed short throws in a spread formation and did not require a lot of reads of the defense. In fact, the receivers accounted for a lot of his passing yardage on runs after catches. Tim Couch posted prolific numbers similarly in an unsophisticated passing offense at Kentucky.

Hey, Tony: I was stunned how much detail coach [Eric] Mangini got into in his press conferences the past two days. He had a smile on his face and answered the questions very well. He also gave a lot of insight into his methods, such as running laps for penalties and dropped balls, and why they have to do so. This was much more than I expected and more than we have seen in the past four years. Were you as surprised? -- Michael Spitale, Galena, Ohio

Hey, Michael: No. He's a bright man and was in his element presiding over a new class of young, eager football players. There is no pressure to win this time of year, just hope and optimism. In some cases, this is the best time of year for an NFL coach.

Thomas Ondrey/The Plain DealerOne fan is skeptical about Tony's post-draft assessments. Then again, why should fans have all the fun when it comes to giving opinions?

Hey, Tony: When many experts claim you can't rate a draft until at least two years after, what qualifies you as having more expertise than them? I mean, many 'experts' claimed Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, etc., were impact players, while others drafted lower or not at all, James Harrison, Bart Scott come to mind, did become impact players. Don't we have to wait and see? -- Cliff Bonner, Amesville, Ohio

Hey, Cliff: I've said this before: Draft grades are like academic grades in high school. You are graded constantly. There is an instant grade. There is a grade after the first year, the second, the third. What is wrong with giving an instant educated opinion on what a team did? Then after a year or two, maybe some players have improved, others have regressed, and the grade changes. Big deal. Newspapers and Web sites publish and post information and analyses by the hour. We don't have the luxury of time to wait three years to see how a player does. I also believe NFL people repeat that bromide partly to prolong their jobs. If evaluating players is such an inexact science, then why do the same teams do well in the draft year after year (e.g. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, Indianapolis) while other teams struggle to get it right every year?

Hey, Tony: Considering the high number of dropped balls Braylon Edwards had last year, has he or the Browns tried anything different to correct the situation for the coming season? -- Stuart Smith, Branchville, N.J.

Hey, Stuart: Not sure. Edwards has not been a regular participant in the team's off-season conditioning program.

Hey, Tony: Mangini and [GM George] Kokinis have had ample opportunities to part with Brady Quinn but haven't, from Denver's multiple attempts to acquire him to Mark Sanchez's availability on draft day. Do you think Mangini does indeed favor Quinn as the potential starter but isn't about to play favorites (except for Joshua Cribbs) just yet with his new team? -- Tony O'Leary, Charleston, W.Va.

Hey, Tony: That's very possible. I guess we won't really find out until late in the preseason when we learn who will be the starting quarterback.

Hey, Tony: Do you think Graham Harrell has a chance to make the team as the third quarterback behind Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn? -- Eddie Russell, Geneva

Hey, Russell: No. You're forgetting about Brett Ratliff, the ex-Jet QB acquired on draft day. I suppose if Harrell shows anything in training camp he might hang on as a practice player. But I wouldn't get too high on a player not drafted. Thirty-one other teams didn't see enough talent to draft him.

Hey, Tony: With the addition of Brett Ratliff, and Graham Harrell's impressive tryout, is trading Derek Anderson still a possibility? I agree that keeping him and Brady Quinn is counterproductive. We've seen everything Anderson has to offer, I believe he's as good as he's gonna get. Is there no market for him now? -- Jason Brunner, Elyria

Hey, Greg: Apparently not.

Phil Long/Special to The Plain DealerIn 2000, LeBron James was a high-stepping, long-legged receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Hey, Tony: I've read a lot recently about LeBron James' incredible football career in high school. If he leads the Cavs to a NBA championship within the next couple of years, could you imagine him pulling a Jordan and making a go at the NFL? If it doesn't work out, he'll still be in the prime of his basketball career. I know there's a huge difference between the high school and NFL level. -- Sean Wachsman, Louisville, Ky.

Hey, Sean: Why on Earth would James risk his livelihood in basketball by dabbling in pro football? He can't earn one-tenth the money in the NFL that he does in the NBA. Why not just be the best in one sport rather than spreading yourself thin?

Hey, Tony: I have been hearing that the Jets are interested in acquiring Braylon Edwards. Is there any truth to this? I hope Mangini isn't dumb enough to give them a discounted franchise quarterback and number one wide receiver. -- Dave Fitzgerald III, Ansonia, Ohio

Hey, Dave: No doubt the Jets have to be interested in Edwards. I have speculated that Mangini might be interested in a trade involving Thomas Jones. But he would have interest in others, too, such as Leon Washington and Brad Smith. Ultimately, I don't think anything will happen between the two teams. But I wouldn't be surprised if something did.

Hey, Tony: Every time we get a new coaching staff, there always seem to be a handful of players who benefit from the last regime (Earl Little and Orpheus Roye for Butch; Chaun Thompson and Leigh Bodden for Romeo). Which five players in your opinion will benefit the most with the new Mangini staff? -- Kevin Chernitsky, Jacksonville, Fla.

Hey, Tony: I noticed there might have been an opportunity for the Browns to get a prime draft pick during the recent draft. Denver, picking directly behind the Browns in the second round, traded for the pick with Seattle for a 2010 first rounder? (No. 37: Alphonso Smith). Do you think the Browns might have been offered the same deal by Denver and turned it down because of their potential need for a replacement for Braylon Edwards (Brian Robiskie)? -- Bob Reeves, Akron

Hey, Bob: I don't know. I don't think the Browns projected Robiskie as a replacement for Edwards, but they did like him a lot.

Hey, Tony: I know you said not to get too excited about [Graham Harrell], but I think the Browns are making a mistake by not signing him. He was described as a guy who made good decisions, as very accurate and he seemed to pick up Mangini's system. I read the knock on him was he had an average arm, not as big as the NFL likes and Texas Tech was always in the spread offense, but what is the harm in bringing him into training camp and seeing how he does? -- Greg Dineen, Middletown, Ohio

Hey, Greg: It could still happen. I don't get the feeling that teams are banging on the door to sign Harrell, do you?

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